The Minnesota Taconite Workers Mesothelioma Project

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In July 2008, the Minnesota Department of Public Health, the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health, and the Natural Resources Research Institute in Duluth, Minnesota announced they had received $4.9 million in funding to conduct a research study on Minnesota Iron Range workers and taconite miners who ultimately developed mesothelioma. A progress report on the project is expected to be released in 2009.

The Minnesota Department of Health has already completed a preliminary data analysis on taconite workers who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. The miners in the study worked at six of the seven mining operations that were active during their employment period. One-quarter of the workers were employed in the mining industry for less than one year, while slightly more than one quarter were employed for thirty years or longer. To date, 59 Iron Range workers have died from mesothelioma.

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